It’s hard to believe that a quarter of 2025 is almost completed by now! This year has already entailed some major events in pop culture that were certainly not on my bingo card. From music events to dramatic TV moments, it’s safe to say that nobody quite knows what the rest of the year has in store. Here is a recap of a few of the best moments in pop culture from this year so far!
Music: Starting off this list strong with one of the biggest nights in music, the Grammys. This year, winners included Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter for Album of the Year and Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal for Best Rap Album, the latter making her the third woman to ever win this category. However, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter win was slightly more controversial than Doechii’s… just slightly. While the album claimed the Grammy for Best Country Album, many critics questioned whether it truly fit the country genre, considering its wide range of influences. Beyoncé herself stated that Cowboy Carter is not strictly a country album, but a “Beyoncé album” that consists of a blend of different genres, predominantly country. This sparked debate as to if she deserved the win for Best Country Album, and it has since become up to interpretation as to whether it’s truly part of the country genre.
The iHeartRadio Music Awards also took place recently, with notable winners including Mariah Carey for the Icon Award, GloRilla for Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, and Green Day for Alternative Artist of the Year. Notably, Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us lost in the Song of the Year category to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone, despite winning Record of the Year at the Grammys. Lamar also performed at this year’s Super Bowl, paying tribute to African American culture through powerful visual storytelling. His set included references to the struggles and triumphs of African Americans, and it truly highlighted him as both a musical genius and an advocate for equal representation of black identity in mainstream media.
TV: The bachelor for this year was a 31 year old named Grant Ellis, who set out on a quest for love, choosing between 25 women. As of the time of writing, only three women remain, including Juliana, Litia, and Zoe. The season finale holds the promise of both drama and romance, as Grant’s bachelor run comes to an end. As one chapter closes, however, a new one opens, as Netflix is releasing a documentary into the lives of child influencers on April 9th, 2025. The three-part docuseries is set to explore the lives of internet personality Piper Rockelle and her friends, including Sophie Fergi, Gavin Magnus, and more. The purpose of this documentary is to educate viewers on the negative effects of children growing up in the spotlight, as well as the corruption that takes place behind the scenes. Viewers can also expect new seasons of Squid Game, Black Mirror, and Stranger Things to be released later this year.
Movies: The live action movie of Snow White is set to come out in late March 2025, but critics have found issues with the casting of the lead. Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress, is facing criticism from those who feel the movie strays too far from the “traditional” look of Snow White. This precisely mirrors the backlash faced by Halle Bailey for her casting as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, which was produced in 2023. On another note, fans were sure to “hold space” for Cynthia Erivo’s Defying Gravity performance in the live action Wicked movie, starring herself and Ariana Grande. The movie itself did not win an award for the song at this year’s Oscars, despite positive reviews from most critics. If you’re tired of all these new live action remakes, you’d better prepare yourself for the new Lilo and Stitch coming out in May of this year, with a cast including Maia Kealoha, Zach Galafanakis, and more.
Fashion: 2025 has already proven itself to be quite the year of fashion and beauty trends, with some more questionable than others. This year has focused on a growing influence on sustainability in both fashion and beauty products, with attempts to deinfluence cheap, fast fashion. New York Fashion Week showcased a few predictions for Spring 2025 trends, including vibrant hues, unconventional layering of fabrics, and fringe dresses. And is it safe to say polka dots are making a comeback? I think so! The timeless pattern has been seen to return in 2025, being viewed through a contemporary and sophisticated lens. Low rise jeans have also made a noteworthy comeback, but let’s be honest, did they ever really leave?
So who knows what’s to come for the rest of 2025? What are some of the craziest predictions on your bingo cards for pop culture moments?
